BENCHPRESS

Head Office & London Region: Trumper s Way Hanwell London W7 2QD Tel : 020 8867 9977 Fax : 020 8867 9900 Email : info@benchmarkscaffol ding.com Northern Region Office: Max Darby House Valley Road Stati on Road Industrial Estate Wombwell Barnsley S7 3 0BS Tel : 01226 7 55 922 Fax : 01226 755 166 Email : barnsley@benchmarkscaffolding.com

Paul Taylor Managing Director—Northern Region

As a kid, like many others, I spent some time delivering

newspapers. The memory of trudging around the streets of Sheffield with an enormous bag (no, not that sort of bag!) in

either the freezing cold, the pouring rain or the blistering

heat is still with me. The delivery of the publication you are now reading has, however, taken more time than the aggregate

of all my previous deliveries.

So, welcome to the first edition of “Benchpress” the internal newsletter of Benchmark Scaffolding Ltd. A big thank you

goes to Georgina Bradbury & Lottie Creaser for pulling it all together.

We’ ve been talking of doing a newsletter, and what we should

put into it, for a couple of years now and, eventually, we

decided to just do it, hope for the best and then make it better the next time. When I say “we” decided that is, of

course, the “royal we”. A sort of “ready, fire, aim” approach you might say.

You will note that there is a bit of an imbalance in the content

as the Northern Region is over represented. This is entirely due to the presence of Georgina & Lottie in the Barnsley

office and their ability to nag the guys there on an almost daily basis! We are also out of balance when comparing the

business content to the personal stuff but that will be

corrected in the next issue. Speaking of the next issue we hope to make “Benchpress” a quarterly event so please

give it some thought and send us articles and photographs

by post or email – see below left. Personal stuff is very welcome so don’ t hold back – let’ s hear about your hobbies

and family etc funny or serious.

I was rather honoured when Rob West said would I like to write the first section to appear in the first issue.

From memory, however, those were neither his exact words nor his exact sentiment! You’ ll be hearing from Rob

next time.

What do you think about the name of the newsletter

then? Good, eh? I’ ll claim credit for that. I also named the newsletter (In-Form) of my previous company so it’ s

becoming a habit I suppose. In the first issue of In-Form (a copy of which I still have) I was talking about how that

company was working towards Investors in People accreditation and about how I was about to direct Billy

Liar. I could have put almost the same content in this issue of Benchpress. It’ s strange how things come around

again.

It is hoped that Benchpress become a forum for the whole company that will be eagerly anticipated and

enjoyed by you all so please read on and help us to make it

so.

Best regards

The present keeper of the monument is The City of London Corporation. The restoration works are being carried out by Cathedral Works Organisation Ltd. Ben ch mark’s Techni ca l Director, Bob Young, has been tasked with designing the scaffold structure which has to incorporate a hoist and staircase access from ground level to the top. John Walton—Estimating Director (London Region)

Great Balls of Fire Benchmark Scaffolding is to be awarded the contract for the scaffold access to the London landmark ‘The Monument’ , built in 1671 by Sir Christopher Wren to commemorate the Great Fire of London, which started in Pudding Lane, London, EC3 on the night of 2nd September 1666. The tower stands 202 feet/61.50m high and is reported to be the tallest isolated tower in the world.

Works are due to commence in summer 2007.

‘The Monument’ built in 1671

Issue 1

May 2007

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After more than a year now in my present role, I have learned a lot about the importance of the culture of health & safety, rather than the rules and regulations. It is no accident that we have a branch accident frequency rate of zero (AFR). This means we haven’t had a ‘3 day lost time’ accident since June 2005. It is a mindset by everyone that safety is the most important thing whilst you are at work. I’ve heard numerous times before that “I only go to work for the money” which is true to a certain extent but its also true you don’t go to work to get injured either because you can’t work if you are hurt through an accident. So it shows that the Toolbox Talks and training you receive are working and you are using all your skills to be the leaders in site safety.

So well done and keep it up!

Billy Wood—Safety Advisor (Northern Region)

SAFETY AWARDSSAFETY AWARDSSAFETY AWARDSSAFETY AWARDS

JANUARYJANUARY Carlos Siqueira received the Northern award for having 3 visits by the HSE and being complimented on a good safe site.

Colin Jackson received the London award for his excellent safety work on site and also being proactive on safety issues. Robert Crowe received a spot award of £20 for carrying barrier tape in his car.

FEBRUARYFEBRUARY Damian Levitt received the Northern award for during a safety committee meeting brought up the subject of Scaff-Tags and that a lot of operatives did not know much about them. Since

then Bovis have introduced this subject into their induction. Andy Raghbir received the London award for identifying potentially faulty products and

making his manager aware.

MARCHMARCH Paul Meadows received the Northern award for receiving a Carillion, “Don’ t walk by” award.

Dennis Rigg received the London award for formulating the personal assessment forms G Lindley and Sean Paley received the safety “Score” award for their work on exclusion

zones.

APRILAPRIL Wayne Evans received the Northern award for suggesting an amendment to the Toolbox Talk for safety rescue procedures ie, building a walkway to inertia block and a impact load lifting rig. Gavin Martin received the London award for taking a running line to another job without being instructed to.

Wayne Evans receiving April’s safety award from

Billy Wood

takes account of cleanliness, considerate behaviour , co-operation and care. Membership may also bring hidden benefits to participants; ti dier sites are often less costly to run and they are safer . Over the last few years, Bovis in particular have embraced the Scheme and have been quite vociferous in managing compliance among their various trade contractors. During 2006, we worked very closely with Bovis in Implementing the values of the Scheme on several large sites in the city; Finsbury Circus in particular (currently worth £2m to us and still ongoing until around August thi s year). The ensuing result of this was we were nominated (out of 13 scaffolding companies regi stered in the Scheme) for, and won, the

as we were the only contractor in our category deemed worthy of such an accolade.

Rob West had the honour of receiving this from the Lord Mayor at a formal presentation ceremony at the City’s Guildhall just before Christmas. Our aim for 2007 is to r epeat this win and currently feel confident that this is achievable. Graham Pope—General Manager (London Region)

In late 2005, we were introduced to the Corporation of London’s “Consi derate Contractor Scheme” at one of their afternoon seminars and encouraged to become a participant. First introduced into the City of London in 1987 , the Scheme’s intention is to continually improve the condition of the interface between construction sites and the public highway and, in their own words ‘induce a spirit of pride and excellence in the workforce and supervisors’. At the end of each year, much coveted awards are distributed to those contractors who the Corporation have deemed worthy by exceeding the requirements of a simple Code of Good Practice which

Rob West being present with

the ’Gold Award’ (left)

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Captain is taking notes about his treatment

whilst held prisoner by the Home Guard and

asks Frank to g ive his name we then hear

Mainwaring utter the immortal line “Don’t tell

him Pike”!

As a favour to Theatre Companies the inclusion

of Mum’s Army & The Godiva Affair allows the

inclusion of female roles too.

The Play was given a three night run at

Wakefield Theatre Royal and then transferred

to the Gaiety Theatre Douglas, on the Isle of

Man, for a once only performance in the

annual “Festival of Plays”.

Dad’s Army by Jimmy Perry & David Croft

Most people will be familiar with and have affection

for the characters of this piece.

The television series ran for many years and is a great

favourite of the British public.

The inspired casting of Arthur Lowe as the bumbling

Captain Mainwaring and John Le Mesurier as his

suave Sergeant Wilson led to many comic moments

per episode in itse lf. Clive Dunn’s Corporal Jones, Ian

Lavender’s Private Pike, and Arnold Ridley’s Private

Godfrey are unforgettable too.

The stage version comprises three of the TV episodes

namely Deadly Attachment, Mum’s Army and The

Godiva Affair plus a piece written for the Royal Variety

show called Floral Dance.

Wakefield Little Theatre recently performed Dad’s

Army and Paul Taylor (Managing Director – Northern

Region) appeared in Deadly Attachment as the “U”

Boat Captain, a role played by Philip Madoc on TV.

This episode includes what is probably the most

quoted line from the entire series. The German

Six other plays were performed in

the week and Wakefield were

placed 3rd overall. Other awards

were won for Best Costumes, Be st

actor under 21, and the plays

director won the Adjudicators

award for successfully combining

his directorship with playing the

le ad role of Mainwarin g .

Nominations were received for be st

actor, best supporting actor, be st

supporting actress, be st comedy,

best set and best director.

This was Paul’s 3rd outing with

Wakefield at the Isle of Man

Festival having previously been in

All My Sons (by Arthur Millar) and

Sh ad ow land s (by W illiam

Nicholson). Paul also appeared

for Wakefield in Blood Brothers

during 2006.

Paul Taylor—Managing Director

(Northern Region)

Dad’s Army Lives On

Photograph of the cast taken on set

“Don’t tell him Pike”!

behind him was Nicky “The

Kentucky Kid” Haydon followed closely by John “Hopper” Hopkins

who launched an attack on him to

gain 4th, pulled it off then fell off on the corner before ours, which again I

had something to say about, then it was home time, we were tired,

hungry & in need of some ice cold beer.

Got back to our apa rtmen ts,

Showered, changed & straight out

for a great night, Roll on 19th August the Czech GP for another fun filled,

beer fueled weekend!

Mark KnitterMark KnitterMark KnitterMark Knitter————EstimatorEstimatorEstimatorEstimator (Northern Region)(Northern Region)(Northern Region)(Northern Region)

Different stand to last year, 150 million miles away from the exit, but a lot better viewing, the

seats were on the Dry Sack Harpin, where most of the passes were made & most crashes!

125 Race::125 Race::125 Race::125 Race::

Very good clean racing but early on in the race our lad Bradley Smith got knocked off by a

Spanish rider & was in 8th position so I obviously had something to say about it.

250 Race::250 Race::250 Race::250 Race:: An amazing action packed race, as I said earlier

on with our seats being on a good corner there were riders going into the corner 4 a-breast, we

were all on the edge of our seats every lap. Moto GP Race:Moto GP Race:Moto GP Race:Moto GP Race:

Rossi got a good start & got out in-front early

on, followed by a fast consistent Pedrosa, but failed to make a move on the calm & composed

number 46, Pedrosa was followed a couple of seconds behind by the Colin “The Texan

Tornado” Edwards who rode a flawless race, Mark (left) and his dad at

Sanluce Square

Jerez Moto GP Jerez Moto GP Jerez Moto GP Jerez Moto GP

25.03.200725.03.200725.03.200725.03.2007

1111s ts ts ts t V. RossiV. RossiV. RossiV. Rossi 2222ndndndnd D. PedrosaD. PedrosaD. PedrosaD. Pedrosa

3333rdrdrdrd C. EdwardsC. EdwardsC. EdwardsC. Edwards

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Look who’s 40

THINKING OF BUILDING A

ROCKERY— NEED SOME STONE?

FREE TO A GOOD HOME stone,

various shapes and sizes and suitable for a rockeries,

please ring Lottie at the offi ce on

01226 755922.

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On the 15th July 2007 I will be joining thousands of other women in the Race for Life 2007 event for cancer research. The events are happening all over the country on separate days but mine will be held at The Pontefract Race Course on the morning of the 15th. Over the last 13 years women have helped raise £140 million in sponsorship for the charity. This year their hoping to raise £60 million and I’m glad to say that I will be part of this fundraising. If anyone wishes to help me make a difference to someone’s life, your sponsor would be welcomed. Georgina Bradbury (Northern Region)

race for life 2007

The Benchmark Golf Tournament took place at Hatfiel d London Country Club on Saturday 12th May and was a great success with a total of 28 guests including Benchmark

empl oyees and customers from Bovi s Lend Lease, Irvine Whitlock , Mace and Taylor ’s Hoi sts. Peter Lippard fr om Bovis was the overall winner on count back . Stuart Taylor fr om Taylor ’s Hoi sts took the prize for the longest drive and beat Les Dryden by 6 inches and John

Kennedy fr om Mace won nearest the pin. Russell Greenbrook was the ov erall Benchmark winner with Eamonn Golledge coming second.

The l ongest game of the day went to Tony Ellis who scored a world record one point and was presented with a pink tee and i s now allowed to play off the ladies tee! The team prizes went to Bernard’s team first and John Walton’s second.

It w as suggested that a committee be set up to establish El Bandino’s (Berney McDermott) true handicap.

Vicky Hunt-Poore—Executive Assistant London Region

The Benchmark London Region Golf Tournament

Mark Wilson (Bov is), Kevin Kenneally (Jerb), Russell Greenbrook

(Benchmark’s Winner) and Tristan Whalley (Waagen Biro)

GSX-R1000 K6

Doesn’t she look like her dad

Meet the Bradbury’s 2

new additions. Aren’t they little beauties

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What a What a What a What a

WhopperWhopperWhopperWhopper

Keith Lawson (Contracts Manager) informs us that

the fishing season has began and they meet

ever y Tuesday at the Pi t Pond in Barnsley.

Everyone welcome.

IT’S THAT TIME OF IT’S THAT TIME OF IT’S THAT TIME OF IT’S THAT TIME OF

YEAR AGAIN FOR YEAR AGAIN FOR YEAR AGAIN FOR YEAR AGAIN FOR

FISHINGFISHINGFISHINGFISHING

Our mission is to not only “Set the Standards” but to progressively and continuously raise them across all aspects of our business.

Our vision is to be the scaffolding contractor of choice to our customers and employer of choice to our people.